Wax myrtle plant named ‘BTC-1’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Wax Myrtle plant named ‘BTC-1’, characterized by its compact, upright and globular plant habit; short internodes and very freely branching habit; dense and bushy plant form; and dark green-colored foliage.

Botanical designation: Myrica cerifera.

Cultivar denomination: ‘BTC-1’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of WaxMyrtle, botanically known as Myrica cerifera, and hereinafter referredto by the name ‘BTC-1’.

The new Wax Myrtle originated from an open-pollination in 1996 inAugusta, Ga., of two unnamed selections of Myrica cerifera, notpatented. The new Wax Myrtle was discovered and selected by the Inventoras a single flowering plant within the progeny of the statedopen-pollination in a controlled environment in Augusta, Ga. in 1999.

Asexual reproduction of the new Wax Myrtle by cuttings in a controlledenvironment in Augusta, Ga. since 2000 has shown that the uniquefeatures of this new Wax Myrtle are stable and reproduced true to typein successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar BTC-1 has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment and cultural practices such as temperature,daylength and light intensity without, however, any variance ingenotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘BTC-1’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘BTC-1’ as a new and distinct cultivar of WaxMyrtle:

-   -   1. Compact, upright and globular plant habit.    -   2. Short internodes and very freely branching habit; dense and        bushy plant form.    -   3. Dark green-colored foliage.

Plants of the new Wax Myrtle can be compared to plants of the parentselections. Plants of the new Wax Myrtle differ from plants of theparent selections in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Wax Myrtle are more compact than plants of        the parent selections.    -   2. Plants of the new Wax Myrtle are much more freely branching        and have shorter internodes than plants of the parent        selections. Consequentially, plants of the new Wax Myrtle are        bushier and denser than and not as open and leggy as plants of        the parent selections.    -   3. Leaves of plants of the new Wax Myrtle are darker green in        color than leaves of plants of the parent selections.

Plants of the new Wax Myrtle can be compared to plants of the Wax Myrtlecultivar Emperor, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons conducted inAugusta, Ga., plants of the new Wax Myrtle differed from plants of thecultivar Emperor in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Wax Myrtle were more compact than plants of        the cultivar Emperor.    -   2. Plants of the new Wax Myrtle were much more freely branching        than plants of the cultivar Emperor. Consequentially, plants of        the new Wax Myrtle were bushier and denser than and not as open        and leggy as plants of the cultivar Emperor.    -   3. Leaves of plants of the new Wax Myrtle were darker green in        color than leaves of plants of the cultivar Emperor.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearanceof the new Wax Myrtle, showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors ofthe new Wax Myrtle.

The photograph on the first sheet comprises a side perspective view of atypical plant of ‘BTC-1’ grown in a container.

The photograph on the second sheet is a top perspective view of atypical plant of ‘BTC-1’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurementsand values describe plants grown in Augusta, Ga. in an outdoor nurseryduring the winter and under conditions which closely approximatecommercial production. Plants used for the photographs and for thedetailed were about two years old. In the description, color referencesare made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 1995 Edition,except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Myrica cerifera cultivar BTC-1.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Unnamed selection of Myrica            cerifera, not patented.        -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Unnamed selection of Myrica            cerifera, not patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—By cuttings.        -   Time to initiate roots.—About four to six weeks at 22° C. to            38° C.        -   Root description.—Fibrous; white in color, root apices, pink            in color.        -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; moderately dense.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant habit.—Perennial shrub. Compact, upright and globular            plant habit. Short internodes and very freely branching            habit; lateral branches potentially forming at every node;            dense and bushy plant form. Vigorous growth habit.        -   Plant height.—About 65 cm.        -   Plant diameter.—About 67 cm.-   Lateral branch description:    -   -   Length.—About 16.5 cm.        -   Diameter.—About 3 mm.        -   Internode length.—Relatively short, about 1 cm.        -   Texture, young.—Smooth, glabrous.        -   Texture, older.—Woody.        -   Color, young.—144A.        -   Color, older.—Close to 197A.-   Foliage description:    -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate, simple.        -   Length.—About 4.75 cm.        -   Width.—About 1.4 cm.        -   Shape.—Lanceolate.        -   Apex.—Sharply acute.        -   Base.—Attenuate.        -   Margin.—Serrate; serrations widely-spaced.        -   Fragrance.—Moderate; typical of species.        -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Smooth, glabrous;            leathery.        -   Luster, upper surface.—Glossy.        -   Luster, lower surface.—Dull.        -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate.        -   Color.—Developing foliage, upper and lower surfaces: 144A.            Fully expanded foliage, upper surface: Darker green than            147A; midvein, close to 147B; lateral veins, close to 147A,            Fully expanded foliage, lower surface: More green than 147B;            venation, close to 146A.-   Flower description: Flower development has not been observed on    plants of the new Wax Myrtle.-   Garden performance: Plants of the new Wax Myrtle have been observed    to tolerate wind, rain and temperatures ranging from about 1° C. to    about 38° C.-   Pathogen/pest resistance: Plants of the new Wax Myrtle have not been    observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Wax    Myrtles.

1. A new and distinct Wax Myrtle plant named ‘BTC-1’ as illustrated anddescribed.